Due to the poor condition of the road leading to Miandrivazo, the team brought their departure forward and spent a night in Antsirabe before continuing towards Ambatolahy early the following morning. Poor road conditions caused further delays, but the team eventually arrived and began setting up their equipment that same evening.
A warm welcome in Ambatolahy
The Mayor of Ambatolahy expressed his continued gratitude to HoverAid for not forgetting the people of Ambatolahy and the surrounding areas. Since the MMS project was launched there nine years ago, we have developed a strong relationship with the town hall and the Ambatolahy CSB, enabling our teams to continue providing medical care in the area.
Many people had travelled from far away to seek treatment, with some sleeping and cooking their meals at the commune’s community hall because they had nowhere else to stay.
Despite the almost unbearable heat, a large number of people arrived for treatment when the mission officially opened on Tuesday morning.
Providing medical and surgical care
As with previous missions in Ambatolahy, the surgical team worked across two operating rooms, allowing them to carry out both local and general anaesthetic procedures.
The team dealt with a number of complex surgical cases, including two cleft lip repairs, four appendectomies, two femoral hernia repairs, gallbladder stone removal and an amputation for a tumour of the left femur. Other procedures included surgery for hernias and hydroceles.
The medical team also treated patients for a wide range of conditions, including high blood pressure, epilepsy, dental problems, infections and urinary tract infections.
Among the patients was a man of around 60 who was showing signs of an impending stroke. He was urgently hospitalised, with the MMS medical team taking charge of his care throughout the mission.
A gallbladder stone was also discovered in a 10-year-old child, who was subsequently operated on by the surgical team. The team also saw a two-year-old child with spina bifida who requires specialist neurosurgical intervention that could not be provided on-site.
Statistics – Total 715
